Preparation for treating textile fibers and yarns



United States Patent" PREPARATION FOR TREATING TEXTILE FIBERS AND YARNS Arthur Maeder, Basel, and Otto Albrecht, Neuewelt, near Basel, Switzerland, assignors to Ciba Limited, Basel,

Switzerland, a Swiss firm No Drawing. Application November 10, 1952, Serial No. 319,798

Claims priority, application Switzerland 1 November 13, 1951 18 Claims. (Cl. 252-43.?)

It is known that in the working up of silk and artificial fibers or yarns, including those of cellulosic character and especially those of a non-cellulosic character, considerable difiiculties may occur on knitting machines due to the fact that the threads are damaged by mechanical stress. This damage arises mainly from the fact that the threads do not slide uniformly through the eyelet holes and other parts of the knitting machine, but stick or adhere thereto in uncontrollable manner. In this manner thread breakage or in any event distortion of the knitted meshes can occur. A further difliculty connected with knitting processes is that the meshes of a freshly made fabric possess no stability of shape, that is to say, they do not remain fixed, and can be distorted or damaged in the course of further treatment by mechanical stress. The difiiculties referred to above are especially pronounced in the manufacture of thin fabrics, which are to be subjected in use to a certain mechanical stress such, for example, as ladies stockings.

The present invention provides a preparation for treating silk or artificial fibers or yarns, whereby the dilfculties described above can be overcome. advantageously made up in a concentrated form and subsequently diluted with water for use on the knitting machine. The treatment of the threads may be carried out, when they are drawn from spools, by passing them, before they reach the knitting mechanism, through a treatment bath contained, for example, ina trough'attached to the knitting machine. The expression preparation is used herein to denote the concentrated preparation if the concentration is of importance.

As artificial threads or yarns, which can be treated by the process apart from silk, there come into consideration those of a cellulosic character and especially those of a non-cellulosic character. Among those of a cellulosic character there may be mentioned above all fibers and yarns of esters of cellulose with organic acids, such as acetic acid, for example, cellulose acetate artificial silk. Among the artificial fibers or yarns of non-cellulosic character there may be mentioned those made from polyamide, polylactam or polyacrylonitrile fibers, such as those known in commerce under the names nylon, Perlon and Orion, or fibers of copolymers of acrylonitrile with other polymerizable substances such, for example, as vinyl chloride, or fibers of poly-vinylidene chloride or polyurethanes or those synthesized on the basis of terephthalic acid.

It is also possible to treat simultaneously silk and artificial yarns or threads of the aforesaid kind, or to treat simultaneously different artificial yarns or threads, which are to be worked up into mixed fabrics.

In order to fulfill all requirements the following desiderata for the treatment should be taken into account. Firstly, the threads should be rendered supple and slidable. Secondly, the effect should persist at least until the threads are worked up in the knitting machine. Thirdly, the

knitted meshes should remain fixed. Fourthly, the tex The preparation is tile threads should not be chemically changed, or at least not in an undesired manner, by the constituents of the treatment bath. Fifthly, the bath should not attack the metal parts of knitting machines. Sixthly, the lubricating and fixing substances applied to the threads should not interfere with subsequent dyeing and finishing processes and must therefore be capable of being easily washed out. Seventhly, the bath should not have an unpleasant odor.

The minimum requirements which are essential for the treatment are points 1 and 2 referred to above. Accordingly, the preparation of the invention in its simplest form contains in addition to water, a lubricating agent and a compound for retarding evaporation of the water.

As lubricating agents there may be used anion active compounds of the kind used in the textile industry as softening agents. There may he mentioned, for example, mono-esters of dicarboxylic acids with aliphatic compounds of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group. Suchv compounds may be derived from alcohols of high molecular Weight, such as cetyl alcohol, octadecylalcohol, octadecyl S-hydroxyethyl ether or octadecyl fl-hydroxyethyl thioether, and also N-hydroxyalkylamides or hydroxyalkyl esters of fatty acids of high molecular weight such as N-(B-hydroxyethyl)-palrnitic acid amide,N-(fl-hydroxyethyl)-oleic acid amide, N-(Z- hydroxypropyl)-stearic acid amide or stearic acid B-hydroxythyl ester. The dicarboxylic acids, with which the aforesaid hydroxyl compounds are esterified, may be of the aliphatic or aromatic series. There may be mentioned phthalic acid, succinic acid and maleic acid. The preparation of such mono-esters is known or they can be made by methods in themselves known. There are also suitable condensation products of fatty acid methylolamides and thioglycollic acid, such as are obtainable as described in French Patents Nos. 858,459 and 900,068. In general it is of advantage to use as lubricating agents compounds which contain an aliphatic unbranched carbon chain containing about l6-18 carbon atoms.

As compounds which retard the evaporation of water, there come into consideration high boiling organic compounds of neutral reaction which are volatile with water vapour and at least partially soluble in water, such as alcohols, ketones, ethers or esters. Of special advantage are compounds of this kind that boil between and 240 C. for example, in the vicinity of 200 C. Advan' tageously there are used teipene alcohols, which are especially suitable on account of their pleasant odor. There may be mentioned borneol, fenchyl alcohol and especially ot-terpineol. There are also suitable commercial mixtures of such alcohols, for example, pine oil. Among the aliphatic alcohols, which may be used, but which are not so advantageous as terpene alcohols from the point of view of their odor, there may be mentioned, inter alia, Z-ethylhexanol, isooctanol and trimethylhexanol.

In addition to the two main constituents, namely the lubricating agent and the compound retarding evaporation, there may also be incorporated in the preparations of the invention in order to improve their properties dispersing agents, solution promoters, corrosion inhibitors and buffer substances.

As dispersing agents, which serve also as fixing agents for the knitted meshes, there may be used anion active or ion-free washing agents, for example, sulfonated benzimidazoles substituted at the Z-carbon atom by an alkyl radical of high molecular weight, monocarboxylic acid esters of 4-sulfophthalic acid with higher fatty alcohols,

fatty alcohol sulfonates, alkyl-aryl sulfonates or condensation products of higher fatty acids with aliphatic hydroxyor amino-sulfonic acids, and also salts of fatty acids, such as coconut fatty acids, palmitic acid or stearic acid, and finally polyglycol ethers derived from ethylene oxide and higher fatty alcohols or fatty amines. Advantageously dispersing agents resistant to lime are used.

The addition of a solution promoter may afford the advantage of rendering the dispersions more stable and making it easier to dilute the concentrated preparations. There are suitable for this purpose compounds which are soluble in water and organic liquids and are volatile. There may be mentioned, for example, monoethers of ethylene glycol, such as ethylene glycol monomcthyl ether or ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

It has also been found advantageous to incorporate with the preparations corrosion inhibitors in order to avoid corrosion of knitting machines. For this purpose water-soluble salts of nitrous acid, for example, the sodium salt or the dlcyclohexylarnine salt are suitable. It is also of advantage to incorporate with the preparations Substances which impart an alkaline reaction to the preparations. Advantageously the pH value of the preparations is adjusted to 8-10. In this way attack upon knitting machines by the treatment liquid is also prevented. For this purpose there may be used, for example, sodium carbonate or caustic soda solution. The use of ammonia or water-soluble amines of low molecular weight is less favorable on account of their strong odor. It is of especial advantage to maintain the alkaline reaction of the preparation constant within a rel atively narrow range, for which purpose butter substances such as trisodium phosphate may be added.

The relative proportions of the ingredients of the preparations may vary within fairly wide limits. It has been found advantageous to use for every 10 parts of the lubricating agent, about 7.5-15 parts of the substance retarding evaporation, 4-20 parts of the dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of the solution promoter, 1.5-3.5 parts of the corrosion inhibitor and 1-3 parts of alkaline and buffer substances. It will be understood that the invention is not confined to these proportions, and that one or more of the components may be omitted, as explained above. The quantity of water depends on the desired consistency of the preparation.

If a preparation having the consistency of a paste is desired less water is used, and if on the other hand a liquid preparation is desired correspondingly more water is required. In general the concentration of the preparation is so adjusted that about 5-20 grams are required per liter bath liquor for preparing the treatment bath. The preparation is advantageously diluted in such manner as to give a concentration of about 0.8 to 2 grams of lubricating agent and about 1-1.5 grams of I the substance retarding evaporation, per liter of bath liquid.

The preparation can be prepared in a simple manner by mixing the components advantageously at a raised temperature, for example, at 60-130 C. All the constitnents may be added at the same time. Alternatively, a mixture of two or three of the components may be made first, and the remaining ingredients added subsequently. In accordance with the latter procedure, for example, a mixture of the lubricating agent, the substance retarding evaporation and the solution promoter may be prepared first, and then an aqueous solution of the remaining components may be added to the resulting mixture.

The following examples illustrate the invention, the parts being by Weight unless otherwise stated and the relationship of parts by weight to parts by volume being the same as that of the kilogramto the liter:

Example I 21 parts of the sodium salt of phthalic acid monooctadecyl ester,

Cit

9 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-Z-heptadecylbenzimidazole disulfonic acid,

15 parts of a-terpineol,

5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether,

3.5 parts of sodium nitrite,

46.5 parts of water,

and the mixture is stirred until dissolution is complete. After cooling the mixture, it is adjusted to a pH value of 9 by the addition of caustic soda solution of 10 per cent strength. There is obtained a thinly liquid solution.

Example 2 The mixture constitutes a thickly liquid clear solution.

Example 3 The procedure is the same as described in Example 1, except that the mixture has the following composition:

10.5 parts of the sodium salt of the condensation product of 1 mol of stearic acid methylolamide and 1 mol of thioglycollic acid.

4.5 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-Z-heptadecylbenzimidazole-disulfonic acid,

15 parts of the sodium salt of coconut oil fatty acids,

15 parts of a-terpineol,

5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether,

3.5 parts of sodium nitrite,

46.6 parts of water.

As described in Example 1, the resulting paste is given a pH value of 9 by the addition of caustic soda solution.

Example 4 The following ingredients are mixed together by heating at 120 C. for 2 hoursin a vessel fitted with stirring means and heated with steam:

7 parts of the sodium salt of the condensation product of 1 mol of stearic acid methylolamide and 1 mol of thioglyeollic acid,

3 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-Z-heptadeeylbenzimidazole-disulfonic acid,

5 parts of the polyglycol ether of 1 mol of oleyl alcohol and mols of ethylene oxide,

7.5 parts of ot-terpineol,

2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

into the resulting paste is run a solution of 1 part of sodium carbonate, and 1.75 parts of sodium nitrite in 48 parts of Water, and

the mixture is then cooled to room temperature while stirring. The resulting paste has a pH of 9.

Example 5 The following ingredients are thoroughly mixed together by heating at C. and stirring for V2 hour in a vessel fitted with stirring mechanism and heated with steam:

5.2 partsof the sodium salt of the condensation product of lmol of stearic acid methylolamide and 1 mol of thioglycollie acid,

9.8 parts of the sodium salt of- N-benzyl-Z-heptadecylbenzimidazole-disulfonic acid.

7.5 parts of a-terpineol, 2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

There is then run into the mixture at the same temperature a solution of 1 part of sodium carbonate, and 1.5 part of sodium nitrite in 48 parts of water,

and the mixture is then cooled to room temperature. There is obtained a syrupy liquid having a pH value of 8.5 to 8.8.

Example 6 The procedure is the same as described in Example 5, except that the mixture has the following composition 5.2 parts of the condensation product from stearic acid methylolamide and thioglycollic acid, obtainable as described in Example 6 of French Patent No. 900,068,

2.3 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-Z-heptadecylbenzimidazole disulfonic acid,

7.5 parts of coconut oil fatty alcohol sulfonate,

7.5 parts of borneol,

2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether,

and that a solution of 1 part of sodium carbonate, and 1.75 parts of sodium nitrite in 35 parts of Water is used.

A syrup is obtained which is turbid due to the solid constituents still in suspension.

Example 7 A paste, which is stable and can be stored for a long time, is obtained by first thoroughly mixing together and stirring at 60 C., s

to form a syrupy liquid containing the salts in suspension, and then adding 2 parts'of water at the same temperature and stirring until the mixture has completely cooled. The a-terpineol may be replaced by iso-octanol or fenchyl alcohol or pine oil.

Example 8 In the manner described in Example 5, there is first prepared a mixture by stirring together at 90 C.,

10.5 parts of the sodium salt of phthalic acid monooctadecyl ester,

4.5 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-Z-heptadecylbenzimidazole disulfonic acid,

7.5 parts of ot-terpineol, and

2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monethyl ether,

and then after dissolution has taken place there is run in at the same temperature while stirring a solution of 1.7 parts of sodium nitrite,

2 parts of sodium carbonate, and 1 part of trisodium phosphate in 35 parts of water.

The mixture is stirred until cold, then a further 65 parts of water are added and the whole is stirred until homogeneous. There is obtained a slightly opalescent liquid of low viscosity.

In stead of 2 parts of sodium carbonate and'l part of trisodium phosphate, there may be used 1 part of sodium carbonate and 2 parts of trisodium phosphate.

Example 9 30 denier yarn of polyhexamethylene-adipic acid amide is passed through a bath, attached to a stocking knitting machine, which contains, per liter, 10 grams of the preparation described in any one of Examples 1, 2, 3, and 6, or 12 grams of the preparation described in Example 4 or 5, or 5 grams of the preparation of Example 7, or 20 grams of the preparation of Example 8. The yarn is then stripped and immediately knitted in the moist condition. The threads so treated slide satisfactorily through all the eyelet holes and other parts of the knitting machine, the meshes formed during knitting are uniform and there is no appearance of curling. When the knitting process is finished the non-volatile constituents ofthe preparation dry on the fabric, and impart to it the desired stiflening and fixation, which is necessary for further treatment in the manufacture of stockings.

The constituents of the preparation on the fabric can easily be removed when the knitted goods are finished, by washing with warm water, and no residue remains which impairs subsequent dyeing and finishing processes.

What is claimed is:

1. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises Water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarbox ylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, and for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.240 C. which is volatile with Water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.515 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water.

2. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a Water solublesalt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid,

' for retarding evaporation of the Water an alcohol boiling Within the range of C.240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water,

and a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises Water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide'of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, and a solution promoter, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.515 partsof said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts 7 of said dispersing agent, and 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter.

4. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter, and a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said sub- 1 stance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promotor and 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor.

5. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of hi h molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 -240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter, and a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5- parts of said solution promoter, and 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor, and a quantity of an inorganic water-soluble substance of alkaline reaction such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

6. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises water. as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monocster of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter, a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, and a butter substance, the composition containing for every parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5- parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor and 1-3 parts of said buffer substance and a quantity of an inorganic water-soluble substance of alkaline reaction such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10. I

7. A composition of matter-suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting,

which comprises water, as a lubricating agent a water soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, as a substance retarding evaporation of water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.240 C. as dispersing agent an anion-active .sulfonated washing agent resistant to lime, as a solution promoter a mono-ether of ethyleneglycol, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, and a quantity of an inorganic water-soluble substance of alkaline reaction such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

8. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which comprises water, as a lubricating agent the sodium salt of phthalic acid mono-octadecyl ester, as substance retarding evaporation of water a-terpineol, as dispersing agent the sodium salt of N-benzyl-2-heptadecylbenzimidazole disulfonic acid, as solution promoter ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, as corrosion inhibitor sodium nitrite, as buffer substance trisodium phosphate, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor, 1-3 parts of said butter substance, and a quantity of sodium carbonate such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

9. A composition of matter suitable for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, which contains 10.5 parts of the sodium salt of phthalic acid monoctadecyl ester, 7.5 parts of tx-terpineol, 4.5 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-2-heptadecylbenzimidazole-disulfonic acid, 2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1.75 parts of sodium nitrite, 2 parts of sodium carbonate, 1 part of trisodium phosphate and parts of water.

10. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcohol hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular Weight and thioglycollic acid, and for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water.

11. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a watersoluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt'of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, and for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boilipg within the range of 160 0-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water and a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, and 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent.

12. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents and a solution promoter, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-l5 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, and 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter.

13. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a Water-. soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the Water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter and a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, the composition containing for every parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-l5 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, and 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor.

14. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a watersoluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollie acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160 C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter, a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5- parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, and 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor, and a quantity of an inorganic water-soluble substance '10 of alkaline reaction such that the pH'value of the com position is about 8-10. i

15; A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent an anion active textile softening agent selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an aicoholic hydroxyl group, and a water soluble salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid methylolamide of high molecular weight and thioglycollic acid, for retarding evaporation of the water an alcohol boiling with the range of C.-240 C. which is volatile with water vapor and at least partially soluble in water, a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anion active and ion-free washing agents, a solution promoter, a water soluble salt of nitrous acid as a corrosion inhibitor, and a buffer substance, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, l.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor and 1-3 parts of said buffer substance and a quantity of an inorganic water-soluble substance of alkaline reaction such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

16. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent a water soluble salt of a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic compound of high molecular weight containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group, as a substance retarding evaporation of water an alcohol boiling within the range of 160-240 C. as dispersing agent an anion active sulfonated washing agent resistant to lime, as a solution promoter a monoether of ethyleneglycol, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, and a quantity of an inorganic watersoluble substance of alkaline reaction such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

17. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which comprises water, as a lubricating agent the sodium salt of phthalic acid mono-octadecyl ester, as substance retarding evaporation of water a-terpineol, as dispersing agent the sodium salt of N-benzyl-2-heptadecyl-benzimidazole disulfonic acid, as solution promoter ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, as corrosion inhibitor sodium nitrite, as buffer substance trisodium phosphate, the composition containing for every 10 parts of said lubricating agent, 7.5-15 parts of said substance retarding evaporation of the water, 4-20 parts of said dispersing agent, 2.5-5 parts of said solution promoter, and 1.5-3.5 parts of said corrosion inhibitor, 1-3 parts of said buffer substance and a quantity of sodium carbonate such that the pH value of the composition is about 8-10.

18. A process for lubricating and softening silk and artificial fibers and yarns of cellulosic and non-cellulosic character preparatory to knitting, comprising treating the fiber and yarn with a bath which has been prepared with a composition of matter which contains 10.5 parts of the sodium salt of phthalic acid monooetadecyl ester, 7.5 parts of a-terpineol, 4.5 parts of the sodium salt of N-benzyl-2-heptadecyl-benzimidazole-disulfonic acid,

' 11 2.5 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1.75 parts 2,086,590 of sodium nitrite, 2 parts of sodium carbonate, 1 part 2,158,374 of trisodium phosphate and 100 parts of Water. 2,361,472 I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,025,435 Bouhuys Dec. 4, 1935 12 Whitehead July 3, 1937 Merrill May 6, 1939 Graenacher Oct. 31, 1944 Bricks Feb. 24, 1953 

1. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER SUITABLE FOR LUBRICATING AND SOFTENING SILK AND ARTIFICIAL FIBERS AND YARNS OF CELLULOSIC AND NON-CELLULOSIC CHARACTER PREPARATORY TO KNITTING, WHICH COMPRISES WATER, AS A LUBRICATING AGENT AN ANION ACTIVE TEXTILE SOFTENING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF A MONOESTER OF A DICARBOXYLIC ACID WITH AN ALIPHATIC COMPOUND OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT CONTAINING AN ALCOHOLIC HYDROXYL GROUP, AND A WATER SOLUBLE SALT OF A CONDENSATION PRODUCT OF A FATTY ACID METHYLOLAMIDE OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND THIOGLYCOLLIC ACID, AND FOR RETARDING EVAPORATION OF THE WATER AN ALCOHOL BOILING WITHIN THE RANGE OF 160* C.-240* C. WHICH IS VOLATILE WITH WATER VAPOR AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY SOLUBLE IN WATER, THE COMPOSITION CONTAINING FOR EVERY 10 PARTS OF SAID LUBRICATING AGENT, 7.5-15 PARTS OF SAID SUBSTANCE RETARDING EVAPORATION OF THE WATER. 